KNATCOM Strengthened Curriculum Interventions to Prevent School-Related Gender-Based Violence
The Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM), with support from UNESCO, conducted a two-day training workshop for curriculum development officers from 10th to 11th March 2026 at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Nairobi. The training formed part of the Connect with Respect (CWR) Programme which aims to address School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) through teacher capacity development and strengthened curriculum interventions. The initiative was funded by UNESCO and implemented by KNATCOM in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
The programme is part of UNESCO’s regional initiative, Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3), which seeks to equip adolescents and young people in Sub-Saharan Africa with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to eliminate gender-based violence.
The training was officially opened by the Acting KNATCOM Secretary-General and CEO, Dr. Njogu who underscored the urgent need to address SRGBV, particularly in the digital era where increased use of social media and technology exposes learners to online harassment, cyberbullying, and harmful content. He noted that gender-based violence, whether online or offline, disrupts learning and undermines efforts to achieve inclusive, equitable, and quality education.
He emphasized the important role of schools in fostering safe and respectful learning environments and called for curricula and teaching approaches that respond to the realities of the digital age. Dr. Njogu also highlighted the critical role of curriculum development officers in mainstreaming gender-responsive approaches within the education system.
The training strengthened the capacity of curriculum developers to identify effective entry points for integrating SRGBV prevention within Kenya’s basic education curriculum. This effort contributes to the Government’s broader response to the “Triple Threat” of new HIV infections, gender-based violence, and teenage pregnancy through education.
